A Different World (Percy Jackson Fan-fiction.)

Chapter 1

The sound of wood clashing rang throughout the dojo, me and my best friend, no my brother, battling with wooden swords. Breathing heavy we separated, our swords still at the ready. Looking at the clock on the far wall I could see it's been thirty minutes since we first started. Yet no contact has been made, and we'll continue until one is made.

He took advantage of me looking away and lunged at me. I spun around him and swung at his back, but he ducked and tried to strike my leg. Barely raising my leg in time I retreated a couple steps and pulled out my polyphenylene knife. I ran towards him, jumping in the air I stabbed my blade downwards. He deflected my attack but I continued my momentum, spinning I placed the tip of my knife into his throat. Smiling triumphantly I thought I won, but I felt his wooden blade on my stomach. Looking down I saw he managed to slice me lethally as I stabbed him.

"Dang, another draw," I said in between breaths. I backed away and held my stomach, man these things hurt.

He was holding his neck, "that really hurt but nice move."

We were both breathing heavy and in pain, but we still bowed and showed our respect, I grimaced as I bent down.

"John! Dan! Time for dinner!" We looked at each other before racing upstairs into our house, ignoring the pain in our body. As we opened the door we were greeted by Dan's little sister, Hayley, who gave me a hug when she saw me. She wasn't that younger than us, she was a freshman in our high school, we were seniors.

"You're sweaty Dan, like really sweaty."

"You're short Hayley, like really short."

We laughed and went to sit down at the dinner table in the Kitchen, joining Dan and his family. His mom served us, bringing Tempura Chicken and Salad. Before eating we bowed our heads as Dan's dad recited a prayer.

"We also ask you to help Dan Kinley and John Anderson in the upcoming Karate Tournament. Amen."

We all said Amen and I went on to eat. Every now and then Hayley would kick my feet, I looked up at her, and she thought I was scolding her, but when I kicked her back she smiled and giggled.

"So John and Dan, you guys ready for the tournament next week?" Asked Mr. Kinley, putting his fork down.

"Yessir," we answered in unison.

"Good, this will finally get our dojo out there in the world. Everyone will know the Kinley name."

We nodded in agreement.

Throughout dinner we ate silently, and after we finished we dismissed ourselves. We went to put our dishes away before heading back downstairs. We walked through the dojo and headed into the back, where we had weights and other workout devices. I took off my shirt and laid on the bench as Dan took the pull up bar. I started lifting 75 pounds in sets of ten, trying to get leaner as Dan did sets of fifteen pullups.

"You think we can win John?" He asked as he was resting in between sets and patiently waited for me to finish mine.

I set the bar onto the holder, "yea man, no question about it." I sat up, "This isn't your first karate tournament mate, what's got you so nervous?"

He sighed, "They changed the rules dude, it's not the point system anymore. Who ever hits the ground first loses. That's your style, not mine."

"You got better bruv, way better. You'll do great, I know it."

He nodded and jumped up to do more pull ups, but the door opening distracting us both. Hayley walked in through the open door. Quickly I stood up and put my shirt back on before speaking.

"What's up Hayley?"

"Nothing. I was bored so I decided to come join you guys."

"Did you do your forms?" Dan asked, sternly.

Hayley let out a deep breath, "no, not yet. I'm having trouble again," she admitted. By the look in her eyes and the sound in her voice I could tell she actually needed help and was trying hard.

"Well then," I came in, "let's see if I can't help you a bit, shall we?" I gestured for her to leave the backroom and gave Dan a thumbs up. Walking back into the dojo I waited until she got ready. "Alright, form three." I told her when she nodded at me, indicating she was ready. She began flowing through the form slowly but with power. Every now and then I would stop her and readjust one of her arms or legs. "You're doing good," I told her. "Just keep your arms a bit more sturdy, so you come off as strong, not weak."

"But I am weak, i'm nothing like Dan and i'm nowhere near you." She let her arms fall in exasperation.

"What do you mean," I cocked my head to the side, a thing I do when i'm curious or confused.

"Well," she closed her eyes, thinking really hard on what she was going to say next. "You're way stronger than Dan, like by a lot. So you're way, way stronger than me."

"That's because i'm older and bigger than you, I also have many years over you."

"But I saw you freshman year, videos of you. You were so strong and fast. I'll never be like you." Her eyes met the ground, she refused to lift her head up.

I walk towards her and picked up her head, holding her chin lightly. "You're right, you won't be like me. You'll be a stronger you, which might mean you'll get stronger than me. You'll be a great person, you will be amazing and achieve your dreams. I know you will, just give it time, you'll see." She pouted and turned her head to the side so I brought her in close and hugged her tightly, I brushed her hair as well, knowing she needed it. She practically purred into my shoulder, which made me warm inside. "That's enough for today, go get some sleep okay?" She yawned and nodded before working her way upstairs.

I went back into the weight room where Dan was staring at his phone. He looked up from the screen as he heard the door close. "Alright mate, let's get this work done." He nodded and we both smiled as we began putting on our sparring gear. We equipped ourselves with little gloves, headgear, and shin guards. We walked out to the dojo where, to our surprise Mr. and Mrs. Kinley awaited us, accompanied by Hayley. They must have intercepted her on the way up to her room.

"We always hear you guys sparring upstairs, we figured this time we'll come watch you," said Mrs. Kinley, with a nice smile.

Dan and I looked at each other and nodded, we took a couple steps back to separate ourselves enough distance. We got into our stances, we both used a more modern style of tang soo doo. We looked over at Mr. Kinley and bowed, then we bowed to each other. We waited for Mr. Kinley to say 'go,' then we began the fight.